If you think writing for magazines and newspapers is the only way to make money, you may be in for a surprise. Writers can make money in a multitude of ways beyond article writing, many of which can generate lots of money once you find your niche and gain experience. Whether you are new to writing and want to build up your resume, or you are an experienced freelancer looking to diversify, here are some new ways to use your words to generate income:
Become a ghostwriter. Memoirs, technical books or self-help manuals come to mind, but don't discount writing articles or profiles for experts who may have the knowledge but not the writing skills to do so themselves. Or consider writing web content for business sites or blogs.

If you can speak a second language, consider translation. Rather than looking for freelancing jobs as an interpreter, see if you can find magazines that accept work in a different language (Spanish is extremely popular, but don't discount others as well) or need content translated (especially sought-after for websites and PR writing).

Share what you know with others. If you have experience in the publishing world, becoming a workshop leader or instructor (either online or face-to-face) can be not only a good source of extra income, but also a great way to improve your resume. Libraries, adult-learning centers and community colleges often hire freelance instructors for short-term courses, or you can search online for schools accepting virtual instructors.

Write e-books. Years ago, writers made money by writing and selling pamphlets or brochures. Now you can do the same with e-books, without any upfront expense on your part. Not matter what your background is, you are bound to be an expert on something: parenting, medicine, foreign cuisine or living on a budget. Study your niche, search online to see what is available and what is popular, and write an e-book that helps readers get better at something.

Resell everything. Don't "retire" an article after publication. Instead, look for magazines or websites that accept reprints, or rework the piece into something different and sell it again to a different market.

Start a blog. You can monetarize it by adding affiliate ads, selling your own e-books or using it for promotion of other work.